Residential Self-Selection and Its Effects on Urban Commute Travels in Iranian Cities Compared to US, UK, and Germany

Residential self-selection has gained increasing attention in the Western travel behavior research during the past decade. Many studies in the US, UK, and Germany conclude that the role of individuals’ residential location choice on commute travel behavior is more important than that of the built environment or at least it has considerable effects. However the effectiveness of location choice in many countries and cultures like Iran is unclear. This study examines the self-selections in two neighborhoods in Tehran. As a part of a research about the influences of land use on travel behavior information about people’s location preferences was collected by direct questioning. The findings show that the main reasons for selecting the location of residential units are related to socio-economic factors such as rise of house price and affordability of house prices. Transportation has little impacts on location decisions. Moreover, residential self-selection accounts for only 3 to 7.5 percent of the pedestrian, PT, and car trips.





References:
[1] T. A. Litman, Land Use Impacts on Transport: How Land Use Factors
Affect Travel Behavior, Victoria Transport Policy Institute, 2007,
Available at: http://www.vtpi.org/landtravel.pdf, Accessed: 10.05.2013.
[2] X. Cao, P. L. Mokhtarian, and S. L. Handy, Examining the Impacts of
Residential Self-Selection on Travel Behavior: Methodologies and
Empirical Findings, Research Report No. UCD-ITS-RR-08-25 (Davis,
CA: University of California – Davis), 2008.
[3] J. Holtzclaw, Using Residential Patterns and Transit to Decrease Auto
Dependence and Costs, National Resources Defense Council, 1994.
[4] R. Cervero, “Transit-Oriented Development’s Ridership Bonus: A
Product of Self-Selection and Public Policies”, Environment and
Planning A, 2007, 39: pp. 2068-2085.
[5] A. R. Pinjari, C. R. Bhat, and D. A. Hensher, “Residential Self-Selection
Effects in an Activity Time-Use Behavior Models”, Transportation
Research Part B, 2009, 43(7): pp. 729-748.
[6] A. R. Pinjari, R. M. Pendyala, C. R. Bhat, and P. A. Waddell, “Modeling
the Choice Continuum: An Integrated Model of Residential Location,
Auto Ownership, Bicycle Ownership, and Commute Tour Mode Choice
Decisions”, Transportation, 2011, 38(6): pp. 933-958.
[7] C. R. Bhat, and N. Eluru, “A Copula-Based Approach to Accommodate
Residential Self-Selection Effects in Travel Behavior Modeling”,
Transportation Research Part B, 2009, 43(7): pp. 749-765.
[8] X. Cao, S. L. Handy, and P. L. Mokhtarian, “The Influence of the Built
Environment and Residential Self-Selection on Pedestrian Behavior:
Evidence from Austin, TX”, Transportation, 2006, 33(1): pp. 1-20.
[9] Tehran Master Plan, Urban Development Planning Foundation of
Tehran, Municipality of Tehran, 2006.
[10] W. G. Cochran, Sampling Techniques, 2nd Edition, New York: John
Wiley & Sons, 1963.
[11] J. Horowitz, “Modeling Choices of Residential Location and Mode of
Travel to Work”, Chapter 9 in The Geography of Urban Transportation,
Hanson, Susan, ed. New York: The Guilford Press, 1986: pp. 207-226.
[12] R. Cervero, M. Duncan, Residential Self Selection and Rail Commuting:
A Nested Logit Analysis, Working paper, University of California
Transportation Center, Berkley, California, Available at:
http://www.uctc.net/papers/604.pdf, Accessed: 10.05.2013.
[13] Gerston & Associates, Transit-Based Housing, San Jose, Santa Clara
County Transportation Agency and the Santa Clara Valley
Manufacturing Association, 1995.
[14] D. Hammond, Residential Location and Commute Mode Choice.
Doctoral dissertation, University of Wales, Cardiff, 2005.
[15] T. Schwanen, P.L. Mokhtarian, “What if you live in the wrong
neighbourhood? The impact of residential neighbourhood type
dissonance on distance travelled”, Transportation Research Part D,
2005, 10: pp. 127-151,.
[16] P. T. Aditjandra, C. A. Mulley, and J. D. Nelson, “Neighborhood Design
Impact on Travel Behavior: A Comparison of US and UK Experience”,
Projections, 2009, 9: pp. 28-52.
[17] J. A. Cram, Sustainable Suburbs: Neighbourhood Characteristics and
Travel Behaviour, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape,
University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Unpublished PhD Thesis, 2006.
[18] J. Scheiner and C. Holz-Rau, “Changes in Travel Mode Use After
Residential Relocaion: a Contribution to Mobility Biographies”,
Transportation, 2013, 40(2): pp. 431-458.
[19] J. Scheiner and B. Kasper, “Lifestyles, choice of housing location and
daily mobility: The lifestyle approach in the context of spatial mobility
and planning”, International Social Science Journal, 2003, 55(2): pp.
319-332.
[20] IMU-Institut für Medienforschung und Urbanistik, Raus aus der Stadt?
Untersuchung der Motive von Fortzügen aus München in das Umland
1998–2000, IMU-Institut, München, 2002.
[21] U. Bauer, C. Holz-Rau, and J. Scheiner, Entscheidungsprozesse
regionaler Wohnstandortmobilität. Report AP 131 of Project titled
Intermobil Region Dresden, Büro für Integrierte Planung, Berlin,
Herdecke, 2003.
[22] S. Samadi and S. Moeeni, The Analysis of Metropolitan Housing Price
and UGB in Iran: Application of Panel Data Technique in Selected
Metropolises (Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz), Urban-Regional Studies and
Research Journal, 2012, 14: pp. 21-24.
[23] M. Mirmoghtadaee, “The Relationship between Land Use, Socio-
Economic Characteristics of Inhabitants, and Travel Demand in New
Towns- A Case Study of Hashtgerd New Town (Iran)”, International
Journal of Urban Sustainable Development, 2012, 4(1): pp: 39-62.
[24] A. Soltani and Y. Esmaeili-Ivaki, “The Influence of Urban Physical
Form on Trip Generation, Evidence from Metropolitan Shiraz, Iran”,
Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 2011, 4(9): pp. 1168-1174.
[25] H. E. Masoumi, “Modeling the Travel Behavior Impacts of Micro-Scale
Land Use and Socio-Economic Factors”, Accepted subject to revisions,
Tema. Journal of Land Use, Mobility and Environment, 2013.